Rubber dewatering device

ABSTRACT

A device for removing water or other liquid from elastomer or polymer slurries including a rotor and stator having opposed surfaces between which the material is directed toward the center during relative rotation therebetween. As the material moves radially inwardly, it is squeezed and/or shredded to release the water which is then thrown outwardly by centrifugal force.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Raymond L. Christy [56] References Cited Akron; UNITED STATES PATENTS William S. McCormick, Cuyahoga Falls; 53 gg Eugene 9 21131232 15/1323 1152112113331? 11113:: i /i552 3,161,123 12/1964 1.65116 m1 100/158X [211 APPl- 675,643 3 204 551 9/1965 Messing 100/158 Filed Oct. 16,1967 Patented Mar 16 1971 3,355,764 12/1967 Moyer 18/12 9 [73] Assignee NRM Corporation FOREIGN PATENTS Akron, Ohio 763,855 7/1967 Canada 18/12 1,262,650 4/1961 France 18/12 Primary Examiner-Peter Feldman 54 RUBBER DEWATERING DEVICE 1 26 Claims, 21 Drawing Figs. Attorney-Oberlin, Maky, Donnelly and Renner [52] U.S.Cl 100/104,

100/37,100/111,100/158,18/2,18/12,241/68 ABSTRACT: A device for removing water or other liquid [5 1] Int. Cl B30b 9/?2, from elastomer or polymer slurries including a rotor and stator 1330 3 04 having opposed surfaces between which the material is [50] Field of Search 100/37, directed toward the center relative rotation 1l1,116,177,l58,117, 39,105, 99, 126; 18/12 (C),2 (EM), 30 (AF); 241/68, 157, 160, 161; 146/182 during therebetween. As the material moves radially inwardly, it is squeezed and/or shredded to release the water which is then' thrown outwardly by centrifugal force.

Patented March 16, 1971 I 3,570,394

9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. RAYMOND L. CHRISTY WILLIAM S. MCCORMICK RICHARD K. SENN EUGENE E. HESTON BY 68 68 ATTORNEYS Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,394

'9 Shets Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

/ RAYMOND. L. CHRISTY,

j WILLIAM s. McCORMlCK RICHARD K. SENN & EUGENE L uas'rdu ATTORNEYS Patented March 16, 1971 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. RAYMOND L.CHRISTY,WILLIAM S. McCORMICK,

RICHARD K. SENN 8 EUGENE E. HESTON BY MQWZ$MJMM QQ T ATTORNEYS Emma Mmh- 16,, gm Mum Mmm-snm a;

l l g I INVENTORS. 9 RAYMOND L. CHRISTY L A J L N. 1 W J WILLIAM s. MCCORMICK RICHARD K. SENN EUGENE E. HESTON BY ATTORNEYS Patented March 16,1971 v 3,570,394

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS.

RAYMOND L. CHRISTY WILLIAM s. McCORMICK RICHARD K. SENN EUGENE E. HESTON BY ATTORNEYS Patented Mql ph .1 19 71 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Frgi JJ INVENTORS. RAYMOND LpCHRlSTY, WILLIAM S. MCCORMICK,

RICHARDBK. SENN 8| EUGENE E. HESTON flMMQMJ/KMW ATTORNEYS Patented March 16, 19

9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORS.

' ,Mflwll gfiwm ATTORNEYS RICHARD K. SENN a EUGENE E. HESTON Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,394

9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORS.

RAYMOND L. CHRISTY WILLIAM S. MCCORMICK RICHARD K. SENN EUGENE E. HESTON ATTORNEYS BY dwamwmw, 4/6? miners news'rnnrnc nnvrcn BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally as indicated to a device for removing water or the like from elastomer or polymer materials such as rubber by squeezing and/or shredding the material to release the water.

Previously, it was the usual practice to remove water from rubber or other elastomers or polymers by conveying the material through long drying ovens, a very expensive and slow procedure. Moreover, the space occupied by the ovens was quite large in relation to the quantity of material handled, and large amounts of fuel were required to heat the oven.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing in mind, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a device for removing liquid from elastomer or polymer materials which is much more compact than those devices previously used, and does not require fuel to heat the material. The device generally comprises a rotor and stator having opposed surfaces between which the material is positively driven toward the center by flights or other means on one or both of the opposed surfaces as the rotor and stator rotate relative to each other. During such inward movement, the material is squeezed and shredded to release the liquid which is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force.

Another object is to provide such a device with novel means for adjusting the size of the central outlet for the material to vary the pressure on the material as it passes between the rotor and stator plates.

Still another object is to provide such a device which in one form of the invention has a pair of stator plates disposed adjacent opposite sides of the rotor for conveying material toward the center on both sides of the rotor, such material being discharged from both sides by a discharge screw on which the rotor is centrally mounted.

A further object is to provide such a device with spiral flights on the rotor which cross similar flights on the stator for wedging of the material between the flights toward the center during relative rotation of the rotor and stator.

Yet another object is to provide in another form of the invention a device with spiral flights on the rotor for wedging the material radially inwardly along radial grooves in the stator.

Another object is to provide in another form of the invention a device having a pair of axially spaced plates and an intermediate plate therebetween, with one or more helical slots extending completely through the intermediate plate along which the material is wedged during relative rotation of the plates.

Another object is to provide in yet another form of the invention a device having a drive roll interposed between the rotor and stator for stuffing the material toward the center.

other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the annexed drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of one form of rubber dewatering device constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 as seen from the left end thereof;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the device of FIG. 1 taken on the plane of the line 4- thereof to show the details of the choke sleeve adjusting mechanism for the device;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged fragmentary vertical section through the device of FIG. 1 taken on the plane of the line 5-5 to show the details of the material feed hopper and hopper band;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are respectively fragmentary vertical and horizontal sections through the feed hopper of FIG. 5 taken on the planes of the lines 6-6 and 7-7;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the device as seen in FIG. 4 taken on the plane of the line S-fi thereof;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are fragmentary transverse sections through the device of FIG. 8 respectively taken on the planes of the lines 9-9 and 10-10 thereof to show the configuration of the helical flights on the rotor and stator;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section showing the rotor and stator plates of FIG. 8 in disassembled form;

FIG. 12 is a schematic front elevation view of another form of rubber dewatering device in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary vertical section through the device of FIG. 12 taken on the plane of the line 13-13;

FIG. 14 is a schematic front elevation view of still another form of rubber dewatering device in accordance with this invention, partially broken away to show the rotor flights;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the plane of the line 15-15, FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a vertical section through the device of FIG. 15 taken on the plane of the line 16-16 thereof;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic fragmentary longitudinal section through still another embodiment of rubber dewatering device taken on the plane of the line 17-17, FIG. 18;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged transverse section through the device of FIG. 17 taken on the plane of the line 18-18 thereof;

FIG. 19 is a diagrammatic front elevation view of a further embodiment of such rubber dewatering device; and

FIGS. 20 and 21 are respectively fragmentary vertical and horizontal sections through the device of FIG. 19.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now in detail to the drawings and first especially to FIGS. 13 and ii, there is illustrated one form of rubber dewatering device generally indicated at 1, supported by a rectangular frame 2 above a base structure 3 on vertical posts 4. The device 1 shown generally comprises a stator housing 5 in the form of a pair of axially spaced apart end walls 6 and 7 having stator plates 8 and 9 bolted or otherwise secured thereto, and a rotor 10 interposed between the stator plates 8, 9. Such stator housing end walls 6, 7 may each be provided with horizontal flanges 11 on opposite sides thereof (see especially FIG. 4) adapted to engage the sides 12 of the rectangular frame 2 and securely held in place by slide caps 13 suitably fastened to the sides 12 and pinned or otherwise connected to the flanges 11.

Adjustment of the clearance between the adjacent faces of the rotor 10 and stator plates 8 and 9 is accomplished through adjustment of a plurality of strain rods 15 which interconnect the stator housing end walls 6 and 7 with an end plate 16 welded or otherwise attached to the inner end of the rectangular frame 2. The spacing between the stator housing end walls 6 and 7 is accurately maintained by spacers 17 surrounding the strain rods 15 between the end walls, such end walls being tightly held against the ends of the spacers 17 by nuts 18 threaded onto the strain rods 15 adjacent the outer faces of the end walls. However, axial movement of the stator housing 5 with stator plates 8 and F connected thereto may be accomplished by respectively loosening and tightening the additional nuts 19 on the strain rods 15 which fix the strain rods with respect to the end plate 16. Of course, before such axial adjustment of the stator housing 5 can be accomplished, the slide caps 13 must first be disconnected either from the sides 12 of the frame 2 or stator housing 5 or both.

As clearly shown in FIG. 8, the rotor 10 has a central opening 25 therethrough for receipt of a discharge screw 26 to which the rotor III is desirably welded intermediate the ends thereof. The discharge screw 26 is in turn keyed 'or otherwise rigidly connected to an elongated shaft 27 having its forward end 28 journaled in a pillow block 29 mounted on the front support 30 of the frame 2 and its opposite end 31 coupled to a transmission 32 of suitable type (see FIGS. 1 and 2) also supported on the base structure 3 adjacent the rear of the device. Power may be supplied to the transmission 32 for driving the shaft 27 and discharge screw 26 with rotor 10 connected thereto by a series of belts 33 through a clutch 34 and motor 35.

The material from which water or other liquid is to be removed is fed into the device 1 between the opposing faces of the rotor 10 and stator plates 8 and 9 through a feed hopper 38 secured to the stator housing by bolts 39 or the like. As seen in FIGS. 5-7 and 10, the stator plates 8 and 9 have cutout portions 43 in their outer peripheries for receipt of the sides of the feed hopper and the feed hopper has a discharge opening 40 for directing the material into the feed slots 44 in the stator plates 8 and 9. Adjacent the bottom of the feed hopper 38 there is mounted a disc plow 41 made of a material such as teflon and desirably having a curved inner surface 42 corresponding to the curvature of the outer periphery of the rotor for direct engagement thereby to prevent any material from being carried around by the outer periphery of the rotor.

Referring further to FIGS. 5 and 8 and in addition to FIGS. 9l1, the rotor 10 is provided with matching spiral projections or flights 45 on opposite sides thereof which converge toward the center of the rotor, and the stator plates 8 and 9 have similar spiral flights 46 converging toward their respective centers, but which slope in a direction opposite to that of the spiral flights 45 on the rotor. Accordingly, when the rotor 10 is driven in a clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 5, for example, the material in the feed hopper 38 is forced radially inwardly by the flights 45, 46. Once the pockets or grooves 47 and 48 between the flights 45 and 46 on the rotor 10 and stator plates 8, 9 are filled with material, the material is wedged between the relatively moving flights 45, 46 toward the center openings 47 for discharge from opposite ends of the device 1 by the discharge screw 26 which in the form shown has a double flight 48 with a 12inch lead extending outwardly from opposite sides of the rotor 10.

In recent years, various types of centripetal extruders have been devised which rely on the centripetal force developed when a visco-elastic material is introduced near the periphery of a pair of flat relatively moving plates to force the material radially inwardly through a central extrusion orifice and die. However, when water or other such liquid is present in the material, the liquid acts as a lubricant and prevents plasticizing and smearing. Accordingly, some means such as the spiral flights 45, 46 on the rotor and stator plates must be provided for moving the material toward the center of the device. During such inward movement, the material is squeezed and shredded to release the water contained therein. The water, being nonviscous, is thrown radially outwardly by the centrifugal force created during rotation of the rotor 10 which may have a range of from 0 to 250 rpm. but is preferably driven between 100 and 200 rpm. A band 50 having a gasket 51 cemented to the underside thereof encircles the rotor 10 with its edges in sealing engagement with the outer periphery of the stator plates 8 and 9 radially outwardly of the periphery of the rotor 10 (see especially FIGS. 58) to prevent discharge of the water except through openings 52 in the bottom of the stator housing 5. One end of the band 50 is bolted to the feed hopper 38 whereas the other end is pinned to the stator housing 5.

In contrast to the outward movement of the water, the elastomer or polymer material is viscous whereby it is caused to be moved radially inwardly against the centrifugal force by the flights on the rotor and stator plates for discharge by the discharge screw 26 through material discharge chutes 54 at opposite ends of the discharge screw.

The material is not extruded during the water removing operation and no melting of the material is required or contemplated. Nor is there any appreciable change in the viscosity of the material. However, some heat is generated during working of the material which may be removed by circulating cooling fluid through annular chambers 55 in the stator housing end walls 6 and 7 as required. Water-containing rubber, for example, is usually fed into the device 1 in the form of crumbs and when discharged has the appearance of crepe rubber, that is, crumbs of rubber stuck together in tubular form.

The size of the discharge openings 47 through which the material passes from between the rotor 10 and stator plates 8 and 9 to the discharge screw 26 may be varied for varying the rate of discharge of the material through the device 1 at various rotor speeds to insure proper working of the material for complete removal of water therefrom by axial adjustment of choke sleeves 56. As best seen in FIG. 8, the choke sleeves 56 are disposed over the ends of the discharge screw 26 and have threaded engagement with nuts 57 fixed to'the stator housing end walls 6 and 7, whereby rotation of the choke sleeves 56 in the desired direction will cause axial inward or outward movement of the choke sleeves.

The mechanism 58 for rotating one of the choke sleeves 56 is clearly shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 8, and the mechanism for rotating the other choke sleeve is identical. Included in the mechanism 58 is a cylinder 60 having its inner end bolted to the adjacent stator housing end wall 6 and its outer end supported by a bracket 61 mounted on the frame 2. Contained within the cylinder 60 there is a piston 62 coupled to the choke sleeve lever 63 by an adjustable link 64. The piston 62 also has a threaded rod 65 projecting from the end opposite the link 64 which has threaded engagement with the bore 66 of a sleeve 67 rotatable within the cylinder 60 by a handle 69 fixed to the outer end thereof. As apparent, rotation of the handle 68 and sleeve 67 connected thereto causes axial inward or outward movement of the piston 62 with consequent rotational movement of the choke sleeve lever 63 and choke sleeve 56.

Although a single dewatering device 1 is shown for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that several such devices may be disposed in line and operated by a single drive motor is desired. Moreover, various modifications in the construction of the rotor and stator are contemplated. As for example, instead of providing a single rotor intermediate a pair of stationary stator plates as in the device 1 just described, the rotor 70 may consist of a pair of axially spaced apart rotor plates 71 for straddling a single stator plate 72 as shown in the device 73 of FIGS. 12 and 13. The opposed faces of the rotor 70 and stator 72 are flat, but there is a spiral feed slot 74 extending completely through the stator plate 72, whereby the material which is fed from the hopper 75 into the spiral feed slot 74 will be contacted by both rotor plates 71 and forced along the spiral slot for discharge through a central outlet 76 in the rotor shaft 77.

In still another form of the device generally indicated by the numeral 80 in FIGS. 14--16, the material feed hopper 81 is in registry with a feed slot 82 in the inner face 83 of the stator 84, and the adjacent face 85 of the rotor 86 has spiral flights or projections 87 thereon converging toward the center arranged to force the material along radial grooves 88 in the stator face 83 toward a central outlet 89 between the wall of the stator bore 90 and an extension 91 of the rotor 86. One edge of the grooves 88 is desirably tangential to the edge of the central outlet 89 as shown. An adjustable sleeve 92 inserted over the extension 91 may have threaded engagement with the stator bore 90 for varying the size of the central outlet 89 to vary the pressure on the material within the device 80.

In yet another form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18, the device 95 includes a rotor 96 also having a pair of axially spaced plates 97 straddling a single stator plate 98 as in FIGS. 12 and 13, but in addition the stator plate 98 has a pair of spiral projections 99 with openings 100 therebetween in which the material from the feed hopper 101 is carried between the rotor plates 97, 98. The adjacent rotor faces have spiral flights itld extending toward the center in a direction opposite to that of the stator projections 99, and the stator projections 99 extend to a close clearance with the rotor shaft W which has radial holes 106 therethrough for discharge of the material through an axial outlet 107.

The device 110 of H63. iii-21 is quite similar to the device 84? of the FIGS. 14-116 embodiment, including a fixed stator plate til having radial grooves 112 therein along which the material from the feed hopper 113 is forced by the spiral flights lid on the adjacent face of the rotor 116. In addition, however, there is provided a supplemental feeding device 120 between the rotor 116 and stator plate 111 in the form of a driven roll 121 which is operative to stuff the material between the stator and rotor to increase the output of the device. The driven roll 121 may be a smooth driven roll, a corrugated roll, or a gear tooth or screw type roll, depending upon the type of material being processed and the processing rate desired.

In the various disclosed forms of the invention wherein the rotor straddles the stator or vice versa, the material is generally forced radially inwardly between the opposing faces on both sides of the member which is straddled for discharge through a central opening. However, if desired, the direction of the flights on one side of the central member may be reversed whereby the material which is fed in at the outer periphery of the other side of the member will be forced inwardly along that side and out the other side where it is discharged, rather than discharged through a central outlet.

From the above discussion, it can now be seen that the various forms of material dewatering devices disclosed herein will effectively remove water from elastomer or polymer slurries by forcing the material between two or more relatively rotating plates in such a manner as to squeeze the water therefrom which is subsequently removed by centrifugal force without the need of having to pass the material through an oven such as those presently being used at a substantial savings in cost and space.

Although the various devices disclosed herein have been discussed specifically with reference to their use as water removal devices, it will be apparent that they may also be used for extruding materials.

We claim:

ll. Apparatus for removing water or other such liquid from an elastomer or polymer material comprising a rotor and stator having opposed faces, means for rotating said opposed faces relative to each other, means for feeding such liquidcontaining material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries, and means on the opposed faces of said rotor and stator for forcing such material radially inwardly between said opposed faces and simultaneously squeezing and shredding the material during such relative rotation of said opposed faces to release the liquid therefrom which is thrown radially outwardly be centrifugal force.

2. Apparatus for removing water or other such liquid from an elastomer or polymer material comprising a rotor and stator having opposed faces, means for rotating said opposed faces relative to each other, means for feeding such liquidcontaining material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries, and means for forcing such material radially inwardly between said opposed faces and simultaneously squeezing the material during such relative rotation of said opposed faces to release the liquid therefrom which is thrown radially outwardly by centrifugal force, said stator comprising a pair of axially spaced apart plates, said rotor being interposed between said stator plates to provide opposed faces on opposite sides of said rotor, said last-mentioned means being operative to force the material radially inwardly between the opposed faces on at least one side of said rotor for squeezing the material during relative rotation of said rotor and stator to release the liquid as aforesaid.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein additional means are provided for forcing additional material radially inwardly between the opposed faces on the other side of said rotor to squeeze the liquid therefrom.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising additional means for directing the material which has been forced radially inwardly betweenthe opposed faces on one side of the rotor radially outwardly between the opposed faces on the other side of said rotor.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a housing for said stator plates including a pair of axially spaced apart end walls to which said stator plates are secured, said material feeding means being operative to feed the material between the opposed faces on said one sideof said rotor adjacent the outer peripheries of said rotor and associated stator plate, said material feeding means comprising a feed hopper, said stator plates having cutout portions in their outer peripheries for receipt of the sides of said feed hopper, and a discharge opening in said feed hopper for directing the material into a feed slot in the outer periphery of the face of said stator plate opposite said one side of said-rotor.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a band encircling said rotor for trapping the released liquid which is thrown radially outwardly by centrifugal force as aforesaid, said band being in sealing engagement with the outer peripheries of said stator plates outwardly of said rotor, said band having discharge openings therein adjacent the lower portion thereof for discharge of the liquid contained within said band.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a housing for said stator plates including a pair of axially spaced apart end walls having said stator plates fixed thereto, and means for adjusting the axial clearance between the opposed faces of said rotor and stator plates comprising a plurality of strain rods interconnecting said stator housing end walls, and means for varying the axial position of said strain rods with respect to said rotor.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a disc plow attached to the interior of said hopper and having a curved inner surface corresponding to the curvature of the outer periphery of said rotor for direct engagement thereby to prevent material from being carried around by the outer periphery of said rotor.

9. Apparatus for removing water or other such liquid from an elastomer or polymer material comprising a rotor and stator having opposed faces, means for rotating said opposed faces relative to each other, means for feeding such liquidcontaining material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries, and means for forcing such material radially inwardly between said opposed faces and simultaneously squeezing the material during such relative rotation of said opposed faces to release the liquid therefrom which is thrown radially outwardly by centrifugal force, said means for forcing material radially inwardly to squeeze the liquid therefrom comprising oppositely sloping spiral flights on the opposed faces of said rotor and stator converging toward their respective centers, said flights being adapted to wedge the material therebetween toward the center.

10. Apparatus for removing water or other such liquid from. an elastomer or polymer material comprising a rotor and stator having opposed faces, means for rotating said opposed faces relative to each other, means for feeding such liquidcontaining material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries, and means for forcing such material radially inwardly between said opposed faces and simultaneously squeezing the material during such relative rotation of said opposed faces to release the liquid therefrom which is thrown radially outwardly by centrifugal force, a housing for said stator, a central discharge opening for discharge of the material from between said opposed faces of said rotor and stator, and means for varying the size of said discharge opening for varying the rate of discharge of the material therethrough comprising a choke sleeve having threaded engagement with said stator housing, rotation of said choke sleeve in opposite directions causing axial movement of said choke sleeve to open or close said discharge opening.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a driven roll extending inwardly between said opposed faces for stuffing the material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotor comprises a pair of axially spaced apart plates and said stator is interposed between said rotor plates to provide a pair of opposed faces on opposite sides of said stator, said last-mentioned means being provided on the opposed faces of said rotor and stator on at least one side of said stator for forcing material radially inwardly therebetween and squeezing the material to release liquid therefrom as aforesaid.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for forcing the material radially inwardly comprises a pair of spiral projections on said stator having openings therebetween for receipt of material, and spiral flights on at least one of the adjacent rotor faces extending toward the center in a direction opposite that of said stator projections.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a rotor shaft on which said rotor is mounted for rotation, said rotor shaft extending through a central opening in said stator and having radial holes therein in axial alignment with said stator projections, said stator projections having a close clearance with said rotor shaft, and an axial outlet in said rotor shaft communicating with said radial holes.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for forcing the material radially inwardly includes a spiral feed slot extending completely through said stator toward the center for contact of the material in said feed slot by the adjacent faces of said rotor plates on opposite sides of said stator, said rotor faces being adapted to force the material inwardly along said spiral feed slot for squeezing the material to release the liquid therefrom as aforesaid.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for driving said rotor at a speed which will remove such liquid by centrifugal force as aforesaid.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for forcing material radially inwardly to squeeze the liquid therefrom comprises spiral flights on said rotor faces converging toward the center arranged to force the material inwardly along grooves in said stator face extending toward the axial center thereof,

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a central extension of said rotor projecting through a central bore in said stator, a central outlet for the material between the wall of said stator bore and said extension, and an adjustable sleeve inserted over said extension and having threaded engagement with said stator bore thereby permitting axial adjustment of said sleeve to vary the size of said central outlet.

19. The apparatus of claim further comprising means for effecting rotation of said choke sleeve including a lever projecting radially from said choke sleeve, a cylinder fixed with respect to said stator housing, a piston in said cylinder having one end coupled to said lever, a threaded rod projecting from the other end of said piston, a sleeve rotatable within said cylinder and having threaded engagement with said rod, and a handle on said sleeve for rotating the same.

20. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said rotor is mounted on a discharge screw for conveying the material axially away from said discharge opening.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said stator comprises a pair of axially spaced apart plates, said rotor is interposed between said stator plates to provide opposed faces on opposite sides of said rotor, means are provided for forcing the material radially inwardly between the opposed faces on opposite sides of said rotor to squeeze the liquid therefrom, a central discharge opening is provided on both sides of said rotor for discharge of material, and a central discharge screw projects outwardly from opposite sides of said rotor for conveying the material axially in opposite directions from the resfective discharge openings.

2. Apparatus for working in elastomer or polymer material comprising a rotor and stator having opposed faces, means for rotating said rotor relative to said stator, means for feeding the material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries, and means for forcing the material radially inwardly between said opposed faces, including oppositely sloping spiral flights on the opposed faces of said rotor and stator converging toward their respective centers, said flights being adapted to wedge the material therebetween toward the center.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a central discharge opening for discharge of the material from between said opposed faces, a choke sleeve, and means for effecting axial inward and outward movement of said choke sleeve to vary the size of said discharge opening.

24. Apparatus for working an elastomer or polymer material comprising a rotor and stator having opposed faces, means for rotating said rotor relative to said stator, means for feeding such material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries, and means for forcing the material radially inwardly between said opposed faces comprising spiral flights on said rotor face converging toward the center arranged to force the material inwardly along grooves in said stator face extending toward the axial center thereof.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein one of said rotor and stator has a central discharge opening for discharge of the material, and said grooves in said stator face have one edge which is tangential to the edge of said central discharge opening.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means on said rotor and stator comprise projections and grooves thereon extending toward the axial center of said apparatus which react against each other to advance the material radially inwardly between said opposed faces, squeezing and shredding the material during such radial inward movement to release the liquid therefrom as aforesaid. 

2. Apparatus for removing water or other such liquid from an elastomer or polymer material comprising a rotor and stator having opposed faces, means for rotating said opposed faces relative to each other, means for feeding such liquid-containing material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries, and means for forcing such material radially inwardly between said opposed faces and simultaneously squeezing the material during such relative rotation of said opposed faces to release the liquid therefrom which is thrown radially outwardly by centrifugal force, said stator comprising a pair of axially spaced apart plates, said rotor being interposed between said stator plates to provide opposed faces on opposite sides of said rotor, said last-mentioned means being operative to force the material radially inwardly between the opposed faces on at least one side of said rotor for squeezing the material during relative rotation of said rotor and stator to release the liquid as aforesaid.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein additional means are provided for forcing additional material radially inwardly between the opposed faces on the other side of said rotor to squeeze the liquid therefrom.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising additional means for directing the material which has been forced radially inwardly between the opposed faces on one side of the rotor radially outwardly between the opposed faces on the other side of said rotor.
 5. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a housing for said stator plates including a pair of axially spaced apart end walls to which said stator plates are secured, said material feeding means being operative to feed the material between the opposed faces on said one side of said rotor adjacent the outer peripheries of said rotor and associated stator plate, said material feeding means comprising a feed hopper, said stator plates having cutout portions in their outer peripheries for receipt of the sides of said feed hopper, and a discharge opening in said feed hopper for directing the material into a feed slot in the outer periphery of the face of said stator plate opposite said one side of said rotor.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a band encircling said rotor for trapping the released liquid which is thrown radially outwardly by centrifugal force as aforesaid, said band being in sealing engagement with the outer peripheries of said stator plates outwardly of said rotor, said band having discharge openings therein adjacent the lower portion thereof for discharge of the liquid contained within said band.
 7. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a housing for said stator plates including a pair of axially spaced apart end walls having said stator plates fixed thereto, and means for adjusting the axial clearance between the opposed faces of said rotor and stator plates comprising a plurality of strain rods interconnecting said stator housing end walls, and means for varying the axial position of said strain rods with respect to said rotor.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a disc plow attached to the interior of said hopper and having a curved inner surface corresponding to the curvature of the outer periphery of said rotor for direct engagement thereby to prevent material from being carried around by the outer periphery of said rotor.
 9. Apparatus for removing water or other such liquid from an elastomer or polymer material comprising a rotor and stator having opposed faces, means for rotating said opposed faces relative to each other, means for feeding such liquid-containing material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries, and means for forcing such material radially inwardly between said opposed faces and simultaneously squeezing the material during such relative rotation of said opposed faces to release the liquid therefrom which is thrown radially outwardly by centrifugal force, said means for forcing material radially inwardly to squeeze the liquid therefrom comprising oppositely sloping spiral flights on the opposed faces of said rotor and stator converging toward their respective centers, said flights being adapted to wedge the material therebetween toward the center.
 10. Apparatus for removing water or other such liquid from an elastomer or polymer material comprising a rotor and stator having opposed faces, means for rotating said opposed faces relative to each other, means for feeding such liquid-containing material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries, and means for forcing such material radially inwardly between said opposed faces and simultaneously squeezing the material during such relative rotation of said opposed faces to release the liquid therefrom which is thrown radially outwardly by centrifugal force, a housing for said stator, a central discharge opening for discharge of the material from between said opposed faces of said rotor and stator, and means for varying the size of said discharge opening for varying the rate of discharge of the material therethrough comprising a choke sleeve having threaded engagement with said stator housing, rotation of said choke sleeve in opposite directions causing axial movement of said choke sleeve to open or close said discharge opening.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a driven roll extending inwardly between said opposed faces for stuffing the material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotor comprises a pair of axially spaced apart plates and said stator is interposed between said rotor plates to provide a pair of opposed faces on opposite sides of said stator, said last-mentioned means being provided on the opposed faces of said rotor and stator on at least one side of said stator for forcing material radially inwardly therebetween and squeezing the material to release liquid therefrom as aforesaid.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for forcing the material radially inwardly comprises a pair of spiral projections on said stator having openings therebetween for receipt of material, and spiral flights on at least one of the adjacent rotor faces extending toward the center in a direction opposite that of said stator projections.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a rotor shaft on which said rotor is mounted for rotation, said rotor shaft extending through a central opening in said stator and having radial holes therein in axial alignment with said stator projections, said stator projections having a close clearance with said rotor shaft, and an axial outlet in said rotor shaft communicating with said radial holes.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for forcing the material radially inwardly includes a spiral feed slot extending completely through said stator toward the center for contact of the material in said feed slot by the adjacent faces of said rotor plates on opposite sides of said stator, said rotor faces being adapted to force the material inwardly along said spiral feed slot for squeezing the material to release the liquId therefrom as aforesaid.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising means for driving said rotor at a speed which will remove such liquid by centrifugal force as aforesaid.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for forcing material radially inwardly to squeeze the liquid therefrom comprises spiral flights on said rotor faces converging toward the center arranged to force the material inwardly along grooves in said stator face extending toward the axial center thereof.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a central extension of said rotor projecting through a central bore in said stator, a central outlet for the material between the wall of said stator bore and said extension, and an adjustable sleeve inserted over said extension and having threaded engagement with said stator bore thereby permitting axial adjustment of said sleeve to vary the size of said central outlet.
 19. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising means for effecting rotation of said choke sleeve including a lever projecting radially from said choke sleeve, a cylinder fixed with respect to said stator housing, a piston in said cylinder having one end coupled to said lever, a threaded rod projecting from the other end of said piston, a sleeve rotatable within said cylinder and having threaded engagement with said rod, and a handle on said sleeve for rotating the same.
 20. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said rotor is mounted on a discharge screw for conveying the material axially away from said discharge opening.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said stator comprises a pair of axially spaced apart plates, said rotor is interposed between said stator plates to provide opposed faces on opposite sides of said rotor, means are provided for forcing the material radially inwardly between the opposed faces on opposite sides of said rotor to squeeze the liquid therefrom, a central discharge opening is provided on both sides of said rotor for discharge of material, and a central discharge screw projects outwardly from opposite sides of said rotor for conveying the material axially in opposite directions from the respective discharge openings.
 22. Apparatus for working in elastomer or polymer material comprising a rotor and stator having opposed faces, means for rotating said rotor relative to said stator, means for feeding the material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries, and means for forcing the material radially inwardly between said opposed faces, including oppositely sloping spiral flights on the opposed faces of said rotor and stator converging toward their respective centers, said flights being adapted to wedge the material therebetween toward the center.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a central discharge opening for discharge of the material from between said opposed faces, a choke sleeve, and means for effecting axial inward and outward movement of said choke sleeve to vary the size of said discharge opening.
 24. Apparatus for working an elastomer or polymer material comprising a rotor and stator having opposed faces, means for rotating said rotor relative to said stator, means for feeding such material between said opposed faces adjacent their outer peripheries, and means for forcing the material radially inwardly between said opposed faces comprising spiral flights on said rotor face converging toward the center arranged to force the material inwardly along grooves in said stator face extending toward the axial center thereof.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein one of said rotor and stator has a central discharge opening for discharge of the material, and said grooves in said stator face have one edge which is tangential to the edge of said central discharge opening.
 26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means on said rotor and stator comprise projections and grooves thereon extending toward the axial center of said apparatus which react against each other to advance the material radialLy inwardly between said opposed faces, squeezing and shredding the material during such radial inward movement to release the liquid therefrom as aforesaid. 